Re: GS emmulator [sic]

[Jim Murphy <murph@apple.com>]

In article <5blsoa$as6@sun.rhrk.uni-kl.de> Marvin,
guenter@student.uni-kl.de writes:
>Midd6688 (Midd6688@elan.rowan.edu) wrote:
>: What are the major differences between GUS and Fast Eddie? (If
>: there are any)
>
>1) GUS is available only as a pirated beta copy.
>   Fast Eddie not. :)

    Partially true. The Gus that's available isn't "beta". Proper
use of the word "beta" as it applies to software implies it's
feature-complete. The pirated 1.0d3 version isn't. When we release
it, Gus will be available for free.

>2) GUS will probably never be completed.
>   Fast Eddie will. :)

    How do you know this? Have you worked on Gus? Have you spoken
to those of us that have? We very-much intend to complete Gus.

>3) The beta of GUS does not support sound and serial ports.
>   The final release of Fast Eddie will.

    Again, the Gus you have isn't beta. The current internal version
of Gus does both 1-bit "classic" sound (which FE doesn't), as well
as full Ensoniq support. We will also plan to support serial, and
we almost have full AppleTalk support today.

>4) GUS emulates by replacing GS toolbox calls with Mac calls.
>   Fast Eddie emulates the 'bare metal', thus it is better but
>   a little slower (compatible with Rom1 & Rom3)

    Very wrong. Gus and FE are very similar in how they emulate a GS,
at least from a conceptual standpoint. Gus emulates the hardware, and
does it with screamingly fast PowerPC assembly. The current version
of FE is in C, from what I've read.

>5) GUS won't be able to read 3.5" disks with a special DOS (FTA)
>   The final release of Fast Eddie will.

    Huh? What? Gus has no problem reading any 3.5" disk today. Copy-
protected 5.25" disks present more problems for any software-only
emulator, Gus and FE included.

>6) GUS comes from Apple.
>   Fast Eddie comes from a 'real programmer' & GS enthusiast.
>   (This should explain everything else ;)

   Thanks for the insult, I haven't gotten one directed at me today.
Gus has been developed by a number of long-time Apple II enthusiasts
and "real programmers". Two of us, Dave Lyons and Andy Nicholas, have
provided more for the Apple II community than I can possibly cover.
Gus was/is being done for the love of the Apple II, presumably the
same reason Fast Eddie exists.

(Honestly, I think it's cool that there is more than one GS emulator
for the Mac in the works. It's neat to know we started down the path
first [2-Feb-93], but it's nice to see others have joined us. Healthy
competition will make all of them better.)


Jim Murphy                  Dr. MacsBug               murph@apple.com

"...never quite said what I wanted to say to you,            The Cure
  never quite managed the words to explain to you..."        Untitled